Stage Truss Manufacturer China: Technical Guide for Professional Buyers
Why source your truss directly from a Chinese manufacturer
For an integrator, a rental company or a stage builder, choosing an aluminium structure supplier is a strategic decision. Going through a Chinese manufacturer provides access to a wide range of spigot truss, allows you to control the technical specifications and benefits from manufacturing under certification. This article details the objective criteria to examine: materials, tube diameters, available lengths, permissible spans and load capacities. All the values cited come from the TÜV-tested load tables of the models presented.
Materials and manufacturing: what really matters
Professional truss is manufactured from 6082/6061-T6 aluminium alloy. 6082-T6 and 6061-T6 offer a good strength-to-weight ratio and excellent weldability. The T6 designation indicates a heat treatment that improves the yield strength. At a serious manufacturer, the tubes are welded, then inspected, and the spigots are machined to guarantee precise and repeatable assembly.
The structure of a truss is described by three types of tubes:
- Main tube (主管): this carries most of the loads. The models presented use a 50x3 mm main tube.
- Secondary tube (副管): it stiffens the section. Depending on the model, it is 25x2 mm, 30x2 mm or 50x2 mm.
- Bracing tube (斜管): it provides the triangulation. It is 20x2 mm, 25x2 mm or 30x2 mm depending on the range.
A savvy buyer checks that the manufacturer provides material certificates and test reports. TÜV Rheinland certification and the ISO 9001:2015 standard are concrete benchmarks for assessing quality control.
Understanding load tables before ordering
A load table indicates, for a given span, the permissible distributed load (kg/m) and point load (kg). Two concepts are essential:
- Distributed load: load uniformly distributed over the span (e.g. lighting bars, risers).
- Point load: load concentrated at a single point (e.g. hoist, motor, heavy projector).
The span is the distance between two support points. The greater the span, the lower the permissible load. This is a non-linear relationship: never extrapolate a value beyond the tested range.
The truss families and their uses
Ladder Truss
The WRF-29 Ladder Truss is a two-chord truss, lightweight and economical. It is suitable for vertical applications, small goalpost structures and structures where the footprint must remain small. It is available in lengths from 50 cm to 300 cm (WRF-29-050 to WRF-29-300).
Its load table indicates:
| Span (m) | Distributed load (kg/m) | Point load (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 990 | 990 |
| 2 | 340 | 340 |
| 3 | 168 | 115 |
| 4 | 87 | 43 |
| 5 | 51 | 20 |
| 6 | 26 | 10 |
The rapid drop in capacity beyond 3 m is clear: this truss should be reserved for short spans.
Triangle Truss
The WRT-29 Triangle Truss offers better torsional rigidity thanks to its third chord. It is suited to bars, suspended structures and applications where lateral stability is important. Lengths from 50 cm to 400 cm (WRT-29-050 to WRT-29-400).
| Span (m) | Distributed load (kg/m) | Point load (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 371 | 557 |
| 4 | 250 | 500 |
| 5 | 139 | 348 |
| 6 | 109 | 327 |
| 7 | 85 | 298 |
| 8 | 67 | 268 |
Square Truss
Square truss is the most versatile solution: it accepts higher loads and allows assemblies in several planes. Several models are available:
- WRS-29 Square Truss: main tube 50x3 mm, secondary 25x2 mm, bracing 20x2 mm. Lengths from 50 cm to 400 cm (WRS-29-050 to WRS-29-400).
| Span (m) | Distributed load (kg/m) | Point load (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1942 | 1942 |
| 2 | 976 | 1899 |
| 3 | 658 | 1766 |
| 4 | 488 | 1466 |
| 5 | 392 | 1150 |
| 6 | 317 | 948 |
-
WRS-30 Square Truss: same tube characteristics as the WRS-29 (50x3 mm / 25x2 mm / 20x2 mm), lengths from 50 cm to 400 cm (WRS-30-050 to WRS-30-400). Its load table is identical to that of the WRS-29 (values above).
-
WRS-40 Square Truss: main tube 50x3 mm, secondary 30x2 mm, bracing 25x2 mm. Lengths from 50 cm to 400 cm (WRS-40-050 to WRS-40-400).
| Span (m) | Distributed load (kg/m) | Point load (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 936 | 718 |
| 4 | 732 | 680 |
| 5 | 465 | 644 |
| 6 | 320 | 612 |
| 7 | 232 | 585 |
| 8 | 176 | 560 |
- WRS-4060 Square Truss: main tube 50x3 mm, secondary 50x2 mm, bracing 30x2 mm. Lengths from 50 cm to 400 cm (WRS-4060-050 to WRS-4060-400).
| Span (m) | Distributed load (kg/m) | Point load (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 805 | 1610 |
| 5 | 560 | 1400 |
| 6 | 403 | 1209 |
| 7 | 301 | 1054 |
| 8 | 247 | 988 |
| 9 | 210 | 945 |
- WRS-52 520x520 Square Truss: main tube 50x3 mm, secondary 50x2 mm, bracing 25x2 mm. Lengths from 50 cm to 400 cm (WRS-52-050 to WRS-52-400).
| Span (m) | Distributed load (kg/m) | Point load (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 460 | 1255 |
| 8 | 346 | 1130 |
| 9 | 303 | 1008 |
| 10 | 241 | 923 |
| 11 | 182 | 885 |
| 12 | 164 | 782 |
- WRS-5060 500x600 Square Truss: main tube 50x3 mm, secondary 50x2 mm, bracing 30x2 mm. Lengths from 50 cm to 400 cm (WRS-5060-050 to WRS-5060-400).
| Span (m) | Distributed load (kg/m) | Point load (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 805 | 1610 |
| 5 | 560 | 1400 |
| 6 | 403 | 1209 |
| 7 | 301 | 1054 |
| 8 | 247 | 988 |
| 9 | 210 | 945 |
How to choose: step-by-step method
- Define the actual span between supports. This is the most important input data.
- Estimate the loads: weight of the equipment (lighting, sound, set) and operational loads. Add together distributed and point loads.
- Apply a safety factor according to local rules and the use (public, bad weather, etc.).
- Select the model whose load table covers the span and the load, with a margin.
- Check the compatibility of the spigots and accessories (plates, corner blocks, bases).
- Check the documentation: certificates, assembly instructions, batch traceability.
Sourcing in China: points to watch
- Request the test reports and certificates (TÜV Rheinland, ISO 9001:2015) for the models ordered.
- Check the machining tolerances of the spigots: an assembly with excessive play fatigues the pins.
- Require the technical data sheet with material, tube dimensions and load table for each reference.
- Plan the transport: truss is transported in standard lengths; anticipate the packaging.
- Avoid extrapolations: do not use a truss beyond the tested spans.
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between a ladder, triangle and square truss? A: Ladder truss (WRF-29) has two chords, ideal for short spans and vertical applications. Triangle truss (WRT-29) adds a chord for better torsional rigidity. Square truss (WRS-29, WRS-30, WRS-40, WRS-4060, WRS-52, WRS-5060) offers the greatest versatility and higher load capacities.
Q: How do you read a load table? A: The "span" column indicates the distance between supports. For each span, the distributed load (kg/m) and the point load (kg) are the maximum permissible values. Never exceed these values and do not interpolate outside the ranges provided.
Q: Are the truss certified? A: The models presented are manufactured according to the specifications indicated and the load tables are TÜV tested. The manufacturer can provide TÜV Rheinland and ISO 9001:2015 certificates on request.
Q: What lengths are available? A: The WRF-29, WRT-29, WRS-29, WRS-30, WRS-40, WRS-4060, WRS-52 and WRS-5060 models are offered in lengths from 50 cm to 400 cm depending on the references (for example WRF-29-050 to WRF-29-300 for the WRF-29).